Boston Stump – St. Botolph’s Church, Boston UK
In 2005 I visited the ‘Boston Stump’ – a church tower in Boston, England. It consisted of 365 steps. My husband and I planned to climb to the viewing platform. To do so meant ascending 209 steps using the UP staircase. Once at the viewing deck, climbers pause to enjoy the Lincolnshire countryside. To return down, guests to the church must use the DOWN staircase located at the opposite end of the viewing platform.
My husband and I entered the solid wooden door labelled “UP”. We started our climb. I hadn’t realized what it was like. It wasn’t flights of stairs but a tight winding stone-stepped staircase with a rope as the only handrail.
The door seemed to slam shut behind me taking away my main source of light… and fresh air. Instantly I was filled with trepidation. But my husband was ahead of me so I’d be ok – I thought. He advanced much quicker than me. All the while issuing words of encouragement. Words that were growing fainter with each step. I kept climbing and kept feeling more claustrophobic and tense. I was squeezing the life out of that poor rope. I started to panic. It was really dark and silent. I felt completely alone. My legs were heavy and my feet filled the ever-narrowing steps. In desperation I made a decision to turn around and go back down. I ignored the fact this was the “up” only side of the tower – intended as a one-way. I reckon I’d made it almost to the viewing platform – but by this point I’d had enough.
When I reached the bottom of the staircase I was even more panicked. The door that I had entered through was locked from the outside. I was a prisoner. I knocked on the heavy wooden door as hard as I could. Eventually, it was opened. Then I was granted release from what felt like a medieval prison and the jailer offered me water and words of consolation.
The Blarney Castle, Ireland
Fast forward to 2023 when I was visiting the Blarney Castle in Ireland, home of the famous blarney stone. I had no intention of kissing that stone, but wanted to see what all the fuss was about. To get there I had to climb up yet another spiral stone staircase – just to see folks bend over backwards for their stone-kissing experience. There were a few differences with this experience. The number of narrow stone steps was only 128. There was more light in the winding staircase as there were random slats in the tower walls. This also meant more fresh air. There was certainly more foot traffic. And a bonus option to exit before advancing too far up.
I wasn’t brave, but I did feel more empowered although I could feel my nerves and anxiety trying to dominate my resolve. And yet I heard myself encouraging others on their trek up those steps – I was an experienced spiral staircase climber after all! Experienced yes, successful no!
I cannot express how overjoyed I was to make it to the top step and out into the open air. I had accomplished something significant after all. I had persevered and quieted those negative thoughts in my head. Those very thoughts that reminded me of the failed attempt climbing the “Boston Stump” I had made years earlier.
The Caregiving Application
As a caregiver consultant I naturally drew some parallels to a caregiving experience, especially for those just stepping across the caregiver threshold. Caregivers can succeed when we have others on our team who are encouraging, positive supports. We benefit when we have a source of light to provide clarity for what lies ahead; and when we have a source of fresh air – both figurative and literal. Learning from other caregivers’ experience can provide the hope we need to soldier on, knowing we are not alone as we overcome our fears and negative self-talk!
“I Was Stumped!” Video
*Photo credit from St. Botolph’s Church Spiral Staircase “Photos by Lucy Melford”
